Albert Eeinstein once said, “the fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears…”‘ still, the fear of dying is constantly robbing us of the joy of living.
Like many, I spent too much time worrying about dying to the point that I completely forgot living. Thankfully, after a long struggle, I can finally enjoy living a bit more.
If you are one of those that want to overcome the terror of death then this message is for you.
It has been said the best way to be free from fear is to experience the very thing we are scared of. I agree because this’s how God helped me overcome the fear of death.
In the past few decades I have been through near death scenarios that have helped me develop a sense of immunity to the fear of death. But for the sake of time I will tell you only one of those instances before summing up my observations.
About twenty-five years ago I battled with a mysterious illness. Doctors took every test but failed to come out with a clear-cut diagnosis. After battling this excruciating battle for over a year a night came when it was clear to me that I was going to die.
On that eventful dark night the affliction was so severe, I could hear the spirit of death whispering to my ears, “your time is up, I’ll take you tonight”. Though my lips were too weak to utter a word my spirit was awake and strong.
After hours of intense struggle, some how, I was able to hit back ” you don’t have the authority to take me before my time” I said, “even if my time is up God will send His angels to take me home, not you”.
The conversation went back and forth for a while, but in the end death relented. Suddenly, the pain vanished and from a far I could hear the angels singing as an astounding peaceful sleep befell on me. The next thing I could remember after that was waking up the next morning hungry but alive and healthy .
From this experience (and from a couple of other near death experiences that followed later) I have gleaned certain truths that might also help you;
Death is imminent to all of us
Death is an inevitable occurrence to all humanity. All people – yes, even those great individuals we admire the most like Jesus Christ – have been through it. None of us was meant to live forever. We were created to be in this world for a specific reason and for a certain season. Dying, therefore, is not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’. Some of us were meant to live for a few days, some for a few years and others for a century. But the truth is that the moment will come when all of us will be gone!
Death does not necessarily mean the end
To a person with eternal perspective death isn’t final. Our body has an expiry date but our spirit will live forever. Death might mean the end of human life (as we know it) in this world but there is always be another life beyond the grave. For those of us with an eternal perspective death is simply a separation of the spirit from the mortal body; a transition from one phase of eternal life to another. Death is both a departure from this part of life and the arrival (birth) to another destination of eternal life. For us, death is a bridge where all of us must pass through en route to a better life eternal.
Its not all doom and gloom
Without a doubt death can be traumatic. But that doesn’t mean it is has no value at all. If what we have discussed already is true then its fair to say death – as much as life itself – has some eternal value. God allowed mortality (and other uncomfortable things such as pain and loss) to be part and parcel of this life for a good reason.
Apart from being a crucial refinery tunnel to a much better life to the departed death is also profitable to those left behind. Death presents life with both the opportunity and the means of improvement. For example death helps to eliminate obsolete and dangerous individuals that hinder our progress. Even more so heroic and sacrificial death can inspire and change our lives for the better.
So God allows us to go through the valley of death for the greater good of others as well. Your death experience is not only intended to refine and define you; it’s also intended to influence and change the lives of hundreds or even thousands of other people. Our death is not just for our benefit, but others in our sphere of influence.
You’ll never die before your time
For me premature death doesn’t exist because God will never ever permit anyone to die before the appointed time. God creates and keeps only what He needs. As long as God still need you He’ll keep you alive. Likewise, as long as you are alive God still needs you. The only time you will be allowed to die is when your life purpose has been fully served.
But until then you are going nowhere. According to Romans 8:35-39 nothing in heaven, nothing on earth or in hell; nothing in the past, present or in the future is strong enough to destroy God’s perfect plan for your life.
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